Fatal Madison County fire declared arson

A fire that killed a Madison County mother and her two children a year ago this month has been ruled arson.

[Tired]

Well its a done deal who they will try to hang what is now a cold case on! It's too easy to lay it on the the father/husband rather he has a motive or rather they even try to obtain any real evidence. Too many times we are reading about situations like this, and too many times is the first and only suspect they go after is the husband. Poor guy list his family, now they'll concentrate on him and charge, and convict him on circumstancial evidence. California in Ohio!

[Just Thinking]

Tired wrote:

Well its a done deal who they will try to hang what is now a cold case on! It's too easy to lay it on the the father/husband rather he has a motive or rather they even try to obtain any real evidence. Too many times we are reading about situations like this, and too many times is the first and only suspect they go after is the husband. Poor guy list his family, now they'll concentrate on him and charge, and convict him on circumstancial evidence. California in Ohio!

Was this written by a third grader? It makes it difficult to respect your opinion if you make no sense with the misuse of the words, mispellings, etc.

[a concerned person]

Probably should check the first sentence. "A fire that killed a Madison County mother and her two children a year ago this month has been ruled arson," since it is August and not April when the Romans family died. That doesn't make any sense.
I truly hope that the truth will be found out. I had one of the Romans' children in my class.

[Columbus Mom]

I am shocked and saddened by this finding. Why now is this coming out? Are you telling me that it takes OVER 16 months to figure out if this is arson or not? A local news station reported this and immediately all the horror of this came flooding back. I don't understand why this has taken so long IF this is the truth. Makes me realize and remember how much I miss Billi.

[GCCN mom]

I feel sick...

[Observing from a distance]

I must confess that the circumstances were strange enough in my opinion that the thought of this possibility went thru my head as soon as the tragedy happened. Several things didn't make sense, but I didn't entertain the thought...til now. Not an opinion on who, just acknowleging that something's not right here.

[Not Knowing]

Intuitive, you speak as if you know who is responsible... Are we not innocent until tried and proven guilty?

[COL DAD]

MOTIVE!MOTIVE!MOTIVE! LOOK "AT" MOTIVE

[Crazy]

If you only knew Pete and his family, you would realize how special all three of them meant to one another. If you read the paper back in April 2008, it at that time pin pointed the fire to the carport, now 16 months later, ARSON! This makes me sick to my stomach. Pete is a family member of mine and deep down in my heart, I know he would never do something like to this hurt anyone, including those who he truly loved.

[Well]

I think the thing that struck people as odd (other than the father being upbeat at the funeral (probably shock) and the fact he got out with so minor injuries given the situation or that he "passed out" on the front lawn upon returning despite not having any smoke in his system (he wasn't there during the fire! he "ran for help") was the fact that he straight out blamed the SUV.

That threw up red flags rigth away. IF he, as his story went, was awakened by the fire and ran to the garage it would have had to have already spread for enough that he'd have no idea it came from the SUV.

At best you had to think he was in the garage with a tiny fire and tried to put it out or whatever, then ran off to "call for help" after it got out of control without getting his family out because he assumed they were out? He didn't check nor try to use the phone which from the 911 call was clearly available.

Sorry, that made zero sense, still doesn't.

Forget everything else, the very fact that he zoned in on the SUV in this situation from the minute he was talked to that very evening makes one pause. It hadn't bothered him enough to get it fixed but here he was blaming it when he couldn't possibly have know from his version? Please.

[ABC]

I'll have you (Well) know that pete made several attempts to run into the house from the back door, couldn't get in, and ran around the house to try and open the front door, which was locked. And where did you hear he didn't have any smoke in his system, he could barely speak from all the smoke in his system, which absolutely scorched his throat. And he did not pass out on the front lawn, he passed out at a neighbor's house after running to get help. If you got no facts, I suggest not speculating on the situation.

[Well]

Then both the police reports and news papers are wrong.

HE was asked why he left without trying to get the family out and responded that he thought they were already out.

So you can go by hearsay or you can go by the official report of his words! And that says he was sleepoing on in the living room by himself. Got up and went outside to check. The fire was out of control when he saw it in the garage (already going up the wall). He ran across the street to get help. He was asked about the family and specifically said he believe they were already out.

Rather he now claims to have gone back or not doesn't change what he said at the time. It also doesn't clear up the biggest contradiction in the story: That he got to the garage when the fire was already out of control, but somehow could immediately pinpoint the place it started.

[Ashley]

Yea, this sounds like an insurance scam gone bad.

[Wow]

I have followed these post here and there and do know the family but not well, but from the school and in passing. As I read so many posts, of course I realize the family and close friends will defend this man to the end, but I think EVERYONE should reserve judgement until the police and reports show why they have determined this to be as they say "factually" arson. I realize also, anyone who knows the man as intimatly as they do and cannot fathom he would even have accidently let alone intentionally casue this fire should stand by him and help him and help him recount as best he can the events of that terrible night..It does sound to me like they are going to tear apart his story of that night if the "factual" evidence is so strongly saying it was arson.

[Wow]

Well wrote:

Then both the police reports and news papers are wrong.
HE was asked why he left without trying to get the family out and responded that he thought they were already out.
So you can go by hearsay or you can go by the official report of his words! And that says he was sleepoing on in the living room by himself. Got up and went outside to check. The fire was out of control when he saw it in the garage (already going up the wall). He ran across the street to get help. He was asked about the family and specifically said he believe they were already out.
Rather he now claims to have gone back or not doesn't change what he said at the time. It also doesn't clear up the biggest contradiction in the story: That he got to the garage when the fire was already out of control, but somehow could immediately pinpoint the place it started.

I am just curious how do you have access to the actual police report? I am not attacking you for saying what you said, I was just asking because the media takes snipits from the report here and there and gives what it feels necessary to the general public. Alot like reality shows, show the crazy, silly things, that make good TV. So I am just wondering if what you heard was relayed thru the media or you actually saw the police report?

[Outside looking in]

Well wrote:

Then both the police reports and news papers are wrong.
HE was asked why he left without trying to get the family out and responded that he thought they were already out.
So you can go by hearsay or you can go by the official report of his words! And that says he was sleepoing on in the living room by himself. Got up and went outside to check. The fire was out of control when he saw it in the garage (already going up the wall). He ran across the street to get help. He was asked about the family and specifically said he believe they were already out.
Rather he now claims to have gone back or not doesn't change what he said at the time. It also doesn't clear up the biggest contradiction in the story: That he got to the garage when the fire was already out of control, but somehow could immediately pinpoint the place it started.

Your right the police reports are wrong...he ran to the neighbors house to call for help and collpased on the porch and had to intubated (sp) by the rescue workers. He had smoke in his lungs because he went out to try and contain the fire which was in a carport not garage...his wife was calling 911 at the time telling the kids to get out (which can be heard on the tape) Pete was at that time tyring to contain the fire and in the reports it is clear that the fire got out of control within seconds and the house structure being what is was ingulfed in minutes and though he went to the front of the house and tried to go in he could not get past the door (which was locked)...this was how it was reported..

[GCCS ATTENDER]

im very sad to here it makes me sick... and who knows if he did it or not but it does sound suspicous

sorry not a godd speller im young (13)

[hartford3]

There are two articles on this fire here. the other is 'Fatal 2008 blaze labeled arson.' More posts on this subject.

[hartford3]

Good grief! This story has generated some of the strangest posts I've seen on here for awhile.
First when things like this happen; it's only natural to suspect foul play. That's this day and age. There have been some pretty insensitive remarks made as well as some truly interesting. It don't make sense to me that he thought his family were safe when he couldn't get into either door. I would have rounded them up to a safe place. Screw the house and car. It said they were found by the back door. That seems odd. No one can guess his state of mind or reactions but I believe seeing my family out and safe would be a mans first priority.
"He thought they were out" just don't seem logical.
This truly a sad event and the waste of some lives of a wonderful mother and children. I pray for Peace and a resolution; however it ends for those involved.

[Observer]

People seem to believe life is like a CSI show. Yes it takes time to send items in for testing and to do a thorough investigation. The evidence is the evidence. No telling what the investigators know that we don't. It will come out with time I hope.